Sing

Okay, I straight up loved this. There was nothing about this feel-good film I didn't love. I cannot say anything bad about it, honestly. It was sweet, I loved the redemption story, and all the character work was awesome. I had no idea ScarJo could sing either, so that was a bonus for me. Loved this! 5/5

Sing on Netflix

The Big Sick

The trailer for this movie is deceiving. I expected a basic run-of-the-mill Apatow comedy, but this was something different. This was far more a drama than a comedy, with a decidedly dark tone to the whole film. I don't mean dark as in black comedy... I mean dark as in "oh shit, is the main character going to die???" kind of dark. I wasn't expecting it but it worked really well, and I felt the balance of the lighter scenes to the much heavier scenes to be just right for this story. The film was co-written by one of the leads, Kumail Nanjiani, who turned in a strong acting performance as well. The acting was extremely solid all the way through. especially Ray Romano's great performance. I enjoyed this, it hit me in the feels. 4/5

The Big Sick on Netflix

T2: Trainspotting

I was pretty terrified to watch this if I'm honest. For me, "Trainspotting" was one of those rare films that got everything right. The acting, the writing, the directing, the music... it was all so perfect and I felt there could be no way in hell this sequel could ever live up to that. But, the whole original cast, Danny Boyle back, even the same writers... how could I not watch it? The first 40 minutes were rough. Meeting everyone again, slowly bringing everyone together... something was off. The music wasn't quite right, the direction felt odd, the tone was too serious, because, let's remember, the original is a comedy. And then, exactly 40 minutes in, suddenly, like someone flipped a switch... it was right. Everything was right. It felt like "Trainspotting". It looked and sounded like "Trainspotting". It was truly blessed. Now, even after that magical turn, there were problems. Some things never quite turned around, but, wow... they really did it. They made a worthy sequel, one I laughed and cried at. And, as the gods are my witness, some of Boyle's best shots in his whole career are in this film. If you are a fan of the original, sit through the not-great first 40 minutes, and enjoy most of the rest. 4/5

T2: Trainspotting on Netflix

Army of One

This is the best acting I've seen from Nicolas Cage in a long while. He was truly funny and captured the zany (and true) nature of Gery Faulkner perfectly. I adore Russell Brand and he was great as ever in this. However, the script was a bit spotty with enough holes to drive a dump truck through. With a touch more cohesion this would have been a four-star film, but it was good nonetheless. 3.5/5

Army of One on Netflix

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

I have to admit I'd never heard Scott Walker's music before watching this film. I'm a fan of nearly every genre and type of music, but, if I'm being truthful, Walker's work just isn't for me. I'm a Bartok fan, I like some discord in my harmony, but this was a little too much for me personally. Given that introducing new people to Walker's music was the main goal of this film, I deem it a success. The whole of Walker's career was sifted through and and I really got a sense of how he grew into the influential artist he is today. However, I do wish I could have understood more about Walker the man. I wanted to really know what made him tick, and in that regard the movie didn't work quite as well. This was just average for me. 3/5

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man on Netflix

Paterson

Straight off the bat, I must confess I am not a Jim Jarmusch fan. I actually doubt I would have rented this had it not been for the presence of Adam Driver, who I love. There's a strange rhythm to this film that I did find myself caught up in. It's a simple, very low-key affair, with strange and interesting characters. One could debate how to view Driver's character for days, which I liked a great deal. The problem, one that I habitually have with Jarmusch's films, was that everything moved at a glacial pace. I don't mind slow, but ten minutes felt more like twenty. Things picked up towards the end, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything wrapped up. All in all this wasn't bad - I liked it more than I expected to. 3/5

Paterson on Netflix

The Edge of Seventeen

This is a wonderful, sweet, laugh out loud funny, endearing, and sometimes dark coming of age story. I really loved it - it had a heart and a humor that blended so well together. I went between laughing loudly, cringing, sighing with relief, and tragically sad throughout the film. The acting was wonderful, the direction very good. I highly enjoyed this film. 4.5/5

The Edge of Seventeen on Netflix

Damsels in Distress

I'm sorry, but this really didn't work for me at all. The whole thing felt like a badly adapted Jane Austen novel, which is strange because the director recently released a very good Austen adaptation in "Love and Friendship". Everything felt wooden and dead, and while I know that deadpan style was the point, it didn't connect for me. I didn't get the point of the story - what was this a commentary on? Satire needs a point, and I didn't get one in this film. Not for me. 2/5

Damsels in Distress on Netflix

Closet Monster

This is a fairly solid coming of age drama with a few glaring flaws. The direction is very good, with layers of visual metaphors that repeat and enhance the subtext of the film. The lead actors are all quite good, especially Connor Jessup in the lead role of Oscar. My problem is with some of the character development. When we meet Oscar's father when Oscar is a young boy, he is a loving and kind man who treats his son wonderfully and with respect. Quick cut, and now Oscar is a teenager and his father is somewhat of a monster, with the implication being he was always this way. This confused me, as in the scenes from Oscar's early life there was nothing to support this, and I didn't know what I was missing. In fact, all the characters took major detours between where we met them in Oscar's youth and where they were when he was eighteen. This, I felt, was a big flaw in the film that kept me from getting too emotionally tied to any of the characters. Still though, a solid effort with a strong ending. 3.5/5

Closet Monster on Netflix

The Dressmaker

I guess I'm just not sure what film this wanted to be. It was, all at once, magical realism, western, black comedy, romantic drama, and absurdist. It's possible to successfully blur so many genres, but I don't feel this film pulled it off well. The acting was good for the most part, but, at times, the characters veered into such absurdity that I was quite confused as to their story arcs. The direction was sublime, and I was highly entertained for the most part, but I just couldn't settle into this film - it was too uneven for me. 3.5/5

The Dressmaker on Netflix

The Hollars

I only vaguely remember John Krasinski's first feature, "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men". I remember disliking it quite a bit, but I honestly can't remember why other than feeling that this was just another case of bad people behaving terribly to each other for no damn reason, and it irked me. I also remember that I felt his direction was very promising, and I hoped that his next film would show a maturing of style. This second film of Krasinski's is a definitely step up, but possibly because he didn't write it as well, as he did his first film. The writing was very solid and showed a deep understanding of family, love, and relationships. The acting was strong from all parties, and the direction was impactful and well-paced. I really enjoyed this, and I hope to see more from Krasinski along these lines in the future. 4/5

The Hollars on Netflix

Wetlands

I have no earthly idea how this German sex comedy wound up on my queue, but it was completely strange and utterly fun. I found myself cringing in disbelief quite a bit, but, even though it had it's gross moments, it also had heart and depth and a soul to it. Carla Juri was wonderful in the lead as well. I'm surprised I liked this a lot, but I did. 3.5/5

Wetlands on Netflix

Swiss Army Man

This film was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the absolute best films I have ever seen in my entire life. It is also the most wholly original film I have ever seen in my life. It's going to take a long time to fully wrap my head around what I just saw. It's so rare to see a film that is, at its heart, a comedy, but also a deeply tragic and poignant questioning of humanity and what we hold dear. The performances by Dano and Radcliffe were just astonishing. There is no doubt in my mind that Radcliffe deserves a Best Supporting Actor nomination for this. And the music was just perfectly sublime and fit the film so well. This is such a good film, it's just beyond anything I had hoped for. If you do nothing else, please watch this. Just amazing. 5/5

Swiss Army Man on Netflix

Anomalisa

It's been a long time since I've seen anything by Charlie Kaufman. The last film of his I saw was "Synecdoche, New York", which I found altogether too strange and off-putting. But this film, this Kaufman let unfold slowly like a rose, one perfect petal at a time. It took a full hour for the true nature of the plot to be revealed, and I was stunned and very affected by it. It's wholly original in the way that his first film "Being John Malkovich" was. It's amazing and tremendously tragic and I will remember this one for a long long time. If you've given up on Kaufman, please do watch this one - you will not be sorry. 5/5

Anomalisa on Netflix

Chappie

I'm not going to lie - I was expecting precious little out of this film. It feels much like "RoboCop" had a illegitimate baby with "Short Circuit", which I thought would be off putting as all hell. But, surprisingly, it wasn't off putting at all, but sweet and thoughtful and scratch-your-head cerebral all at once. I found it ultimately a rewarding and tender film that had an interesting message about the nature of humanity. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really enjoyed this. 4/5

Chappie on Netflix

The Intern

I was really apprehensive about this film, as I feared it would veer into rom-com territory, which would be supremely weird. I was refreshingly surprised - it was sweet and lovely and witty and tender. De Niro and Hathaway were both wonderful, and it was a nice surprise to see a friend of mine in a bit part as well. I enjoyed this more than I thought - a fine dramedy. 4/5

The Intern on Netflix

Maggie's Plan

Watching this dramedy I would have sworn to you it was a Noah Baumbach movie, which, from me, is a very high compliment. The script was crisply written, the characters well shaped, and the direction very clean and modern. It lacked the emotional resonance of a Baumbach film, for which I deducted half a star, but this was a fine film. I enjoyed it. 3.5/5

Maggie's Plan on Netflix

Hail, Caesar!

I've been sort-of hate-watching the Coen brothers' comedies for a while now in the same way I hate-watch anything by Wes Anderson. A long time ago the Coens and Anderson made movies I absolutely loved, but they've been coming up short for so long I'm beginning to question why I keep coming back. For once, I was very pleasantly surprised by the Coens, because I really enjoyed this. It was an odd plot, that's for sure, but the acting and pacing were top-notch. I was intrigued and engaged thoroughly, and there were moments that really sizzled for me. Channing Tatum's dance number was divine, as was every scene with  Alden Ehrenreich, who I just loved in this. Really entertaining, and enough to keep me watching for another few films. 3.5/5

Hail, Caesar! on Netflix

Pain & Gain

I almost didn't rent this, as I gave up on Mark Wahlberg a lot of years ago. However, I do love The Rock, so I took a chance and rented this. I was not sorry. This was a smart, stylish, well directed action thriller with really standout performances from all the leads, including Wahlberg. The Rock was, as usual, hilarious, and the script was tight and well written. I really enjoyed this, a I recommend it. 4/5

Pain & Gain on Netflix

Hello, My Name Is Doris

Wow, what a lovely, sweet, and heartwarming movie this is! I was utterly charmed by it, and I really disagree with the Netflix reviews claiming it was creepy. Sally Fields was lovely, and Max Greenfield is, as always, pretty ridiculously sexy. Wonderful. 4/5

Hello, My Name Is Doris on Netflix